Bed system and retainer system therefor

ABSTRACT

A retainer system is configured to retain a mattress to an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations. The retainer system includes a strap and an elongated stiffener. The strap is configured to extend through a sleeve on an underside of the mattress and having first and second ends that are releasably coupled to the adjustment mechanism proximate each left and right sides thereof. The elongated stiffener is coupled to the strap and configured to, when pushed through the sleeve, insert the strap through the sleeve.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/193,467, filed May 26, 2021, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/243,574, filed Sep. 13, 2021, the entire disclosuresof which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to the field of articulating bed framesand more particularly to a magnetically centered strap assembly formattress retainer during articulation.

BACKGROUND

Modern bedroom furniture is typically modular with features that areadjustable for comfort. Articulating bed frames provide various mattresssupports which articulate relative to one another to provide angledsupport for the upper body, seat, thighs and lower legs. In thearticulated position, a mattress which is firm enough for comfort maynot maintain contact with the various articulating supports. It istherefore desirable to have a retainer system to maintain engagement ofthe mattress with the supports.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are implementations of bed systems and retainer systemstherefor.

The implementations disclosed herein provide a mattress retainer systemhaving a tension assembly received in a sleeve on an underside of amattress. In an implementation, the tension assembly incorporates aninsertion flange and a strap is threaded through alternating slots inthe insertion flange. The strap and insertion flange are received in thesleeve with the insertion flange providing resilient rigidity to threadthe flexible strap into the sleeve. A magnetic engagement elementmounted centered on the tension assembly and one or more magnets isembedded or attached to a support of an articulating system for a bed.

In an implementation, a retainer system is configured to retain amattress to an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattressbetween a flat configuration and one or more inclined configurations.The retainer system includes a strap and an elongated stiffener. Thestrap is configured to extend through a sleeve on an underside of themattress and having first and second ends that are releasably coupled tothe adjustment mechanism proximate each left and right sides thereof.The elongated stiffener is coupled to the strap and configured to, whenpushed through the sleeve, insert the strap through the sleeve.

The retainer system may further include a magnetic component that isconfigured to be attracted by one or more magnets at a correspondinglocation of the adjustment mechanism. The elongated stiffener may have asubstantially constant width over a majority of a length thereof, andthe strap may have a width that is less than the substantially constantwidth of the elongated stiffener. Over a majority of a length of theelongated stiffener, the strap may be positioned between the mattressand the elongated stiffener when the retainer system is positioned inthe sleeve. The elongated stiffener may include a plurality of slotsthrough which the strap extends in an alternating manner.

In an implementation, a bed system includes a mattress, an adjustmentmechanism, and a retainer system. The mattress includes a sleeve on anunderside thereof. The adjustment mechanism configured to move themattress between a flat configuration and one or more inclinedconfigurations. The retainer system extends through the sleeve and iscoupled to the adjustment mechanism on each side of the sleeve tomechanically the mattress to the adjustment mechanism. The retainersystem includes a strap and an elongated stiffener coupled to the strap.The strap may be positioned between the mattress and the elongatedstiffener over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener, thestrap may be positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffenerover a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener, the elongatedstiffener may include a plurality of slots through which the strapextends in an alternating manner, and/or the retainer system may bemagnetically coupled to the adjustment mechanism.

In an implementation, a method is provided for retaining a mattress toan adjustable mechanism that moves the mattress between a flatconfiguration and one or more inclined configurations. The methodincludes: providing a mattress having an underside with a sleeveextending across a majority of a width thereof, providing a retainersystem having a strap and an elongated stiffener, providing anadjustment mechanism, inserting the retainer system in the sleeve bypushing the elongated stiffener through the sleeve to pull the strapthrough the sleeve, positioning the mattress on the adjustmentmechanism, and coupling first and second ends of the strap to left andright sides of the adjustment mechanism after inserting the retainersystem in the sleeve.

The retainer system may include a magnetic component attached to theelongated stiffener, and the adjustment mechanism may include a magnet.The method may further include positioning the mattress on theadjustment mechanism for the magnetic component of the of the retainingassembly to magnetically couple to the magnet of the adjustmentmechanism, and may further include performing the coupling of the firstand second ends of the strap to the left and right sides of theadjustment mechanism while the magnetic component of the retainingassembly is coupled to the magnet of the adjustment mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure is best understood from the following detaileddescription when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Itis emphasized that, according to common practice, the various featuresof the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of thevarious features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial depiction of an example adjustment mechanism foran adjustable bed system with an implementation of a mattress retainersystem;

FIG. 2 is a detailed pictorial depiction of the implementation of themattress retainer system;

FIG. 3 is a pictorial depiction of a mattress with the mattress retainersystem inserted in an engagement sleeve of the mattress;

FIG. 4 is a detailed pictorial depiction of the mattress and retainersystem;

FIG. 5 is a detailed pictorial depiction of a clip of a first end of themattress retainer system;

FIG. 6 is a top pictorial depiction of the magnetic component of themattress retainer system;

FIG. 7 is a bottom pictorial depiction of the magnetic component;

FIG. 8 is a detailed pictorial depiction of an example buckle for asecond end of the mattress retainer system;

FIG. 9 is an exploded depiction of the first end of the mattressretainer system and a coupling feature;

FIG. 10 is an exploded depiction of the second end of the mattressretainer system;

FIG. 11 is an exploded depiction of the magnets the adjustment mechanismand the magnetic component of the mattress retainer system; and,

FIGS. 12A-D are depictions of a magnet assembly for the magnets of FIG.11 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Implementations shown in the drawings and described herein provide amattress retainer system with a tension assembly received in a sleeve onan underside of a mattress. The tension assembly has an insertion flangeand a strap threaded through alternating slots in the insertion flange.The strap and insertion flange are received in the sleeve with theinsertion flange providing sufficient rigidity to thread the flexiblestrap into the sleeve. A magnetic engagement element is mounted centeredon the tension assembly. One or more magnets embedded or attached to asupport of an articulating system for a bed magnetically engages themagnetic engagement element to center the tension assembly with respectto the bed. A clip element on a first end of the strap is removablyattached to a mating stub on a support of the articulating system of thebed and a tension element mounted on the support engages a second end ofthe strap. These and various other embodiments of a bed system andretainer system therefor are discussed in further detail below.

Referring to the drawings, an adjustable bed system generally includesan adjustment mechanism 10, one or more retainer systems 20, and amattress 30 that is retained (e.g., coupled) to the adjustment mechanism10 with the one or more retainer systems 20. The retainer systems 20may, for example, be configured to retain portions of the mattress 30near to the adjustment mechanism 10 when the mattress 30 might otherwiseresist bending and, thereby, move away from the adjustment mechanism 10.The adjustable bed system may also be referred to as a bed system. Theadjustment mechanism 10 may also be referred to as an articulatingassembly. The retainer system 20 may also be referred to as a tensionassembly, retainer assembly, or mattress retainer system. Variouscombined components of the adjustment mechanism 10, the retainer system20, and/or the mattress 30 may also be considered to form a mattressretainer system.

FIG. 1 shows the adjustment mechanism 10 for the adjustable bed system2. The adjustment mechanism 10 is configured to support the mattress 30and articulate (e.g., move) the mattress 30 between a flat configurationand one or more inclined configurations in which different portions ofthe mattress 30 are raised relative to the flat configuration. Theadjustment mechanism 10 includes an upper body support 12, a seatsupport 14, a thigh support 16 and a lower leg support 18. The supportsare pivotable relative to (e.g., are rotatably engaged) to one anotherfor articulation of the mattress 30 as is known in the art, for example,being movable with an electric motor and suitable mechanisms (e.g.,linkages and/or hinges). Each of the supports 12, 14, 16, 18 may beconfigured as or otherwise include one or more planar members (e.g., arigid panel) and/or a frame that individually or cooperatively support acorresponding portion of the mattress 30 thereabove (e.g., correspondingupper body, seat, thigh, and lower leg portions thereof).

As referenced above, each of the retainer systems 20 is configured toretain (e.g., couple) the mattress 30 to the adjustment mechanism 10 toprevent, limit, or otherwise hinder relative movement therebetween. Theretainer systems 20 may retain the mattress 30 to the adjustmentmechanism 10 mechanically or a combination of mechanically andmagnetically.

A first one of the retainer systems 20 (e.g., a first retainer system 20a) is engaged on the seat support 14, and a second one of the retainersystems 20 (e.g., a second retainer system 20 b) is engaged on the lowerleg support 18 proximate a foot end of the adjustable bed system. Thefirst and the second retainer systems 20 a, 20 b retain correspondingseat and lower leg portions of the mattress 30 to the seat support 14and the lower leg support 18, respectively to prevent or otherwise limitrelative movement therebetween, such as lifting of the mattress 30 offthe supports. While two of the retainer systems 20 are shown as anexample, one of the retainer systems 20 may be sufficient in certain bedconfigurations and additional ones of the retainer systems 20 may bedesired in other configurations.

Each of the retainer systems 20 a, 20 b, shown in detail in FIG. 2 ,includes an elongated stiffener 22 and a strap 26 that is coupled to(e.g., received by or otherwise engages) the elongated stiffener 22. Forexample, the elongated stiffener 22 includes slots 24 through which thestrap 26 is threaded. The elongated stiffener 22 may, for example, be asubstantially planar member having a substantially constant width over alength thereof, which is greater than a width of the strap 26. Forexample, the width of the elongated stiffener 22 may be greater than thewidth of the strap 26 by 25%, 50%, 100%, 200%, or more.

The slots 24 may be positioned proximate each of two ends of theelongated stiffener 22 and may further include two of the slots 24 atone or more intermediate locations along the elongated stiffener 22(e.g., at a center location thereof, as shown). The strap 26 is insertedthrough the slots 24 in an alternating manner, so as to alternate theside of the elongated stiffener 22 on which the strap 26 is positioned.The slots 24 are positioned such that over a majority of the length ofthe elongated stiffener 22 (e.g., 60%, 70%, 80%, or more), the strap 26is positioned on a first side of the elongated stiffener 22, which maycorrespond to a mattress-side of the elongated stiffener 22. As aresult, the strap 26 is positioned between the elongated stiffener 22and the mattress 30 over the majority of the length of the elongatedstiffener 22).

The elongated stiffener 22 is configured to facilitate insertion of theretainer system 20, including both the elongated stiffener 22 and thestrap 26 thereof, through a sleeve 32 in the underside 34 of themattress 30, as discussed in further detail below. The retainer system20 (e.g., the elongated stiffener 22) may also be configured tomagnetically locate and/or couple the mattress 30 to the adjustmentmechanism 10. For example, the retainer system 20 may include a magneticcomponent 28 that is coupled to the elongated stiffener 22, such asbeing mounted centered on the elongated stiffener 22 along the lengththereof. Two of the slots 24 may be positioned between ends of themagnetic component 28 and/or the strap 26 may extend between theelongated stiffener 22 and the magnetic component 28.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the mattress 30 includes at least one sleeve32 proximate a foot end on the underside 34 of the mattress 30 (e.g., inthe lower leg portion of the mattress 30). The sleeve 32 may, forexample, be formed by or otherwise include a flexible cloth that issewn, clipped, adhered, or otherwise coupled to the underside 34 of themattress 30. The sleeve 32 may extend from one side of the mattress 30to the other. For example, the sleeve 32 may extend laterallysubstantially continuously over a majority of a width (i.e.,left-to-right) of the mattress 30 (e.g., greater than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%or more of the width of the mattress 30). The cloth forming the sleeve32 may be substantially continuously coupled (e.g., sewn) to theunderside 34 of the mattress 30 over a substantial majority of a lengththereof (e.g., greater than 90%, such as the entire length thereof).

While one of the sleeves 32 is shown as an example in FIGS. 3 and 4(e.g., corresponding to the lower leg support 18), the mattress 30 mayinclude a second sleeve 32, for example, approximately the midpoint forthe example arrangement (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1 , and corresponding tothe seat support 14).

As referenced above, the elongated stiffener 22 is configured tofacilitate insertion of the strap 26 through the sleeve 32. Theelongated stiffener 22 is sufficiently stiff (e.g., rigid) that wheninserted and pushed into and through the sleeve 32, the elongatedstiffener 22 does not buckle and inserts (e.g., pulls) the strap 26therewith through the sleeve 32. The elongated stiffener 22 may, forexample, be formed from and plastic material (e.g., being stamped,machined, molded, and/or otherwise formed to form the overall shape andslots 24 therein).

Each of the retainer systems 20 is configured to mechanically couple toleft and right sides the adjustment mechanism 10 on each side of thesleeve 32, for example, adjacent left and right sides of the mattress30. The retainer systems 20 thereby mechanically the mattress 30 to theadjustment mechanism 10.

The retainer systems 20 a, 20 b may each include a releasable clip 36 ona first end 38 of the strap 26 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 . Thereleasable clip 36 is fixedly coupled to the first end 38 of the strap26 and configured to releasably engage a corresponding coupling feature40 (e.g., a button or hook) mounted on one side to the correspondingsupport of the adjustment mechanism 10 (e.g. the seat support 14 for theretainer system 20 a and the lower leg support 18 for retainer system 20b).

A second end 42 of the strap 26 is configured to releasably couple onthe other side to the corresponding support of the adjustment mechanism10. In the example seen in FIGS. 8 and 10 , a second end 42 (e.g., aloose end without a clip or similar coupling element) of the strap 26 isconstrained in an adjustable buckle 44, or other fitting such as a leverlock or similar strap engagement device, that is coupled to theadjustment mechanism 10. The buckle 44 allows a total length of theretainer system 20 to be shortened. For example, the second end 42 ofthe strap can be threaded through, tightened, and then locked by thebuckle 44. The buckle 44 may also be considered a coupling feature.Alternatively, the strap 26 may include a first strap segment (e.g.,including the first end 38 and the releasable clip 36, as describedpreviously), and a second strap segment that includes the buckle 44(i.e., that receives and locks the second end of the first strapsegment, as described previously) and another releasable clip that isconfigured to couple to a corresponding coupling feature (e.g., asdescribed previously for the clip 36 and the coupling feature 40).

In some embodiments, one more of the retainer systems 20 may be locatedby and/or couple the mattress 30 to the adjustment mechanism 10magnetically. For example, each of the retainer systems 20 a, 20 b maybe centered on the underside 34 of the mattress 30 (e.g., between leftand right sides thereof) and/or partially constrained by one or moremagnets 46 of the adjustment mechanism 10 (seen in FIG. 11 ). Theretainer system 20 includes the magnetic component 28 (e.g., aferromagnetic component), while the one or more magnets 46 of theadjustment mechanism 10 attract the magnetic component 28 of theretainer system 20. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7 , the magnetic component 28may, for example, be a steel plate attached to the elongated stiffener22 with rivets 48, comparable fasteners (e.g., screws), or othersuitable manner (e.g., adhesives). In the exemplary implementation seenin FIG. 11 , two of the magnets 46 affixed to each of the associatedsupports (seat support 14 and lower leg support 18) are employed.

Each of the magnets 46 is coupled to one of the supports (e.g., the seatsupport 14 and the lower leg support 18). As seen in FIGS. 12A-D, eachof the magnets 46 is provided in a magnet assembly 45 that furtherincludes an insert 49. Each of the magnets 46 is coupled to the insert49, which is in turn engaged to the associated support with the insert49 being received in a receptacle 50 (FIG. 12B) as shown in FIG. 12C.The insert 49 may also be referred to as a capture plug. The receptacle50 may also be referred to as a hole sleeve.

The insert 49 includes an upper flange portion 52 and a lower rodportion 54 terminating at an expanded head 56. The upper flange portion52 is coupled to the magnet 46, for example, defining or otherwiseforming a recess (e.g., a magnet cup) in which the magnet 46 isreceived. The magnet 46 is coupled to the upper flange portion 52, forexample, with a threaded fastener (e.g., a screw, illustrated in shortdashed lines, inserted through an aperture 64 of the magnet 46), oradhesive. The lower rod portion 54 extends downward from the upperflange portion 52 having a cross-sectional dimension (e.g., diameter)that is smaller than the upper flange portion 52. The lower rod portion54 terminates at the expanded head 56, which forms a flange extendingradially outward from the lower rod portion 54 and is configured toengage the receptacle 50 as described below.

The receptacle 50 includes resilient flaps 58 surrounding a bore 59. Theresilient flaps 58 may, for example, extend downward from an upperflange 57. The resilient flaps 58 expand upon insertion of the lower rodportion 54 of the insert 48 into the bore 59 and resiliently contractupon passage of the expanded head 56 therethrough to engage and retainthe expanded head 56 and, thereby, the insert 49 in the receptacle 50.

The receptacle 50 may be received in a relief 60 (e.g., a recess) in thesupport (seat support 14 and lower leg support 18) as seen in FIG. 12D.The receptacle 50 may be secured with screws 62 or other appropriatefasteners to the support, for example, with the screws 62 extendingthrough the upper flange 57. The relief 60 may be of sufficient depth toreceive at least a portion of the upper flange portion 52 and/or themagnet 46 therein.

A method is provided for coupling the mattress 30 to the adjustmentmechanism 10 with one or more retainer assemblies. In the method, themattress 30, the adjustment mechanism 10, and the one or more retainersystems 20 are provided.

The retainer systems 20 a, 20 b are inserted in the sleeves 32 in themattress 30. For example, the elongated stiffener 20 a, 20 b may bepushed into the sleeves 32 and, thereby, pull the straps through thesleeves 32. The mattress 30 is then positioned on the adjustmentmechanism 10. After inserting the retainer systems 20 a, 20 b, the firstand second ends of the straps 26 are coupled to left and right sides ofthe adjustment mechanism. For example, one side of the mattress 30 isthen lifted and the clips 36 are engaged to the coupling features 40releasably locking the first ends 38 of the straps 26. The second sideof the mattress is then lifted and the second end 42 of the straps 26are inserted through the adjustable buckles 44 and tensioned. Thebuckles 44 are then operated to secure the straps 26. The retainersystem 20, including the strap 26, thereby constrain the mattress 30from separating from the supports of the adjustment mechanism 10 duringarticulation. The mattress 30 and the retainer systems 20 may, thereby,be considered mechanically coupled to the adjustment mechanism 10.

The method may further include securing the magnets 46 in thereceptacles 50 in the associated supports of the adjustment mechanism 10using the inserts 48. The magnets 46 attract the magnetic component 28for approximate positioning of the mattress 30 relative to theadjustment mechanism 10. The positioning of the mattress 30 may, forexample, include positioning the mattress 30 such that the magnets 46attract (e.g., magnetically couple) to the magnetic component 28. Themattress 30 and the retainer systems 20 may, thereby, be consideredmagnetically coupled to the adjustment mechanism 10.

Having now described various embodiments in detail as required by thepatent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modificationsand substitutions to the specific embodiments disclosed herein. Suchmodifications are within the scope and intent of the present disclosureas defined in the following claims. The terms “upper” and “lower”,“upwardly”, “top”, and “bottom” as used herein are not limiting andspecific to the depiction of the implementations shown in the drawingsand may be replaced with alternative terms “first”, “second” or similardifferentiations depending on the actual implementation.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certainembodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to belimited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intendedto cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements includedwithin the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accordedthe broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modificationsand equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

What is claimed is:
 1. A retainer system configured to retain a mattressto an adjustment mechanism configured to move the mattress between aflat configuration and one or more inclined configurations, the retainersystem including: a strap configured to extend through a sleeve on anunderside of the mattress and having first and second ends that arereleasably coupled to the adjustment mechanism proximate each left andright sides thereof; and an elongated stiffener coupled to the strap andconfigured to, when pushed through the sleeve, insert the strap throughthe sleeve.
 2. The retainer system according to claim 1, furthercomprising a magnetic component that is configured to be attracted byone or more magnets at a corresponding location of the adjustmentmechanism; wherein the elongated stiffener has a substantially constantwidth over a majority of a length thereof, and the strap has a widththat is less than the substantially constant width of the elongatedstiffener; wherein over a majority of a length of the elongatedstiffener, the strap is positioned between the mattress and theelongated stiffener when the retainer system is positioned in thesleeve; and wherein the elongated stiffener includes a plurality ofslots through which the strap extends in an alternating manner.
 3. Theretainer system according to claim 1, wherein the elongated stiffenerhas a substantially constant width over a majority of a length thereof,and the strap has a width that is less than the substantially constantwidth of the elongated stiffener.
 4. The retainer system according toclaim 1, wherein over a majority of a length of the elongated stiffener,the strap is positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffenerwhen the retainer system is positioned in the sleeve.
 5. The retainersystem according to claim 4, wherein the elongated stiffener includes aplurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternatingmanner.
 6. The retainer system according to claim 1, wherein a first endof the strap includes a clip that is configured to releasably couple toa corresponding coupling feature of the adjustment mechanism.
 7. Theretainer system according to claim 6, wherein a second end of the strapis a configured to be inserted into a buckle to be retained thereby. 8.The retainer system according to claim 1, further comprising a magneticcomponent that is configured to be attracted by one or more magnets at acorresponding location of the adjustment mechanism.
 9. The retainersystem according to claim 8, wherein the magnetic component is a metalplate attached to the elongated stiffener.
 10. The retainer systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the metal plate is centered on theelongated stiffener along the width thereof.
 11. The retainer systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the strap extends between the elongatedstiffener and the magnetic component.
 12. A bed system comprising: amattress having a sleeve on an underside thereof; an adjustmentmechanism configured to move the mattress between a flat configurationand one or more inclined configurations; and a retainer system thatextends through the sleeve and is coupled to the adjustment mechanism oneach side of the sleeve to mechanically the mattress to the adjustmentmechanism, the retainer system including: a strap; and an elongatedstiffener coupled to the strap; wherein one or more of: the strap ispositioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over amajority of a length of the elongated stiffener; the strap is positionedbetween the mattress and the elongated stiffener over a majority of alength of the elongated stiffener; the elongated stiffener includes aplurality of slots through which the strap extends in an alternatingmanner; or the retainer system is magnetically coupled to the adjustmentmechanism.
 13. The bed system according to claim 12, wherein the strapis positioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over amajority of a length of the elongated stiffener; wherein the strap ispositioned between the mattress and the elongated stiffener over amajority of a length of the elongated stiffener; wherein the elongatedstiffener includes a plurality of slots through which the strap extendsin an alternating manner; and wherein the retainer system ismagnetically coupled to the adjustment mechanism.
 14. The bed systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the sleeve extends a majority of thewidth of the mattress, the retainer system further includes a magneticcomponent, the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet that ismagnetically coupled to the magnetic component of the retainer system,and the support defines a recess in which the magnet is at leastpartially positioned.
 15. The bed system according to claim 12, whereinthe sleeve extends a majority of the width of the mattress.
 16. The bedsystem according to any of claim 12, wherein the retainer system furtherincludes a magnetic component; and wherein the adjustment mechanismincludes a magnet that is magnetically coupled to the magnetic componentof the retainer system.
 17. The bed system according to claim 16,wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet assembly and areceptacle by which the magnet assembly is coupled to the adjustmentmechanism; wherein the magnet assembly includes an upper flange to whichthe magnet is coupled and a lower rod extending downward from the upperflange and terminating at an expanded head; and wherein the receptacleis coupled to the support and includes resilient flaps that define abore through which the lower rod is inserted, such that the resilientflaps engage the expanded head of the lower rod to retain the magnetassembly to the receptacle.
 18. The bed system according to any of claim16, wherein the support defines a recess, and the magnet is positionedat least partially in the recess.
 19. A method for retaining a mattressto an adjustable mechanism that moves the mattress between a flatconfiguration and one or more inclined configurations, the methodcomprising: providing a mattress having an underside with a sleeveextending across a majority of a width thereof; providing a retainersystem having a strap and an elongated stiffener; providing anadjustment mechanism; inserting the retainer system in the sleeve bypushing the elongated stiffener through the sleeve and, thereby, pullthe strap through the sleeve; positioning the mattress on the adjustmentmechanism; and after inserting the retainer system in the sleeve,coupling first and second ends of the strap to left and right sides ofthe adjustment mechanism.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein theretainer system includes a magnetic component attached to the elongatedstiffener, and the adjustment mechanism includes a magnet, the methodfurther comprising: positioning the mattress on the adjustment mechanismfor the magnetic component of the of the retaining assembly tomagnetically couple to the magnet of the adjustment mechanism; andperforming the coupling of the first and second ends of the strap to theleft and right sides of the adjustment mechanism while the magneticcomponent of the retaining assembly is coupled to the magnet of theadjustment mechanism.